ROCKFORD - News talk radio station NTA-100.5 FM became a greatest hits station today, leaving longtime newscaster Ken DeCoster and host Doug McDuff out of a job.

At the same time, WRTB-95.3 FM, which has played all kinds of music, became a country music station.

Both stations are owned by Madison-Wis.-based Mid-West Family Broadcasting, which also owns Rockford's WGFB-103.1 FM, a light rock station; WXRX-104.9 FM, rock; and WNTA-1330 AM, a Spanish-language station. Mid-West bought the stations from Maverick Media in April.

Five full-time employees were laid off and given severance packages as part of the format change, said Mike Paterson, general manager in Rockford.

DeCoster, who has 30 years of radio experience and was a news reporter and show host on NTA from 10 a.m. to noon on weekdays, had been at the station since 1995, Paterson said. McDuff, with 50 years in radio, hosted a show 6 to 10 a.m. on weekdays. He had been with the station since 1994, Paterson said.

DeCoster did not return a phone call, and McDuff could not be reached for comment.

Paterson said the talk-show format was "not financially sound." And he said country music is highly popular in Rockford and nationwide. He said Mid-West aims to "take at least 50 percent of the revenue from the other country station in five or six years." Town Square Media, formerly Cumulus Broadcasting, operates country station WXXQ-98.5 FM. The market manager for Town Square could not immediately be reached for comment.

The new country station will be known as 95.3 The Bull and will feature 20 songs in a row throughout the day. Artists such as Toby Keith, Keith Urban, Zac Brown Band and The Band Perry are among those whose music will be featured. The station had been known as BOB FM and played a random mix of music.

The greatest hits station will feature pop hits of the '60s, '70s and '80s and will be known as 100.5 River-FM. It will feature artists such as Cheap Trick, the Beatles, Elvis Presley, and John Mellencamp. Former WLS DJ Fred Winston will be the station's voice for branding and promotions.

Both stations will add on-air personalities in three months to a year, Paterson said.

Besides Rockford, Mid-West operates radio stations in markets including Madison, La Crosse and Eau Claire, all in Wisconsin, and Springfield, Ill.